Toy



April 2l, 1925.

TOY

Filed Jan. 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffy;

Patented Apr. 21, 1925;

UNITED STATES s GUY r. JoNTz, or CLINTON, IOWA.

TOY.

Applicationled January 16, 1925. Serial No. 2,743.

T0 all 'LU/0m t may concern.'

Be it known thatr I, GUY F. JoN'rz, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Clinton, Clinton County, and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys,of which the follow-V ing is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly, to that class of toys that employ an endless revolvable track and a motor driven vehicle that travels thereon.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement on the type of toy shown and described in my pending application for patent, filed March 10, 1924, Serial No. ($953,202, and its principal object is to provide an endless track of improved construction and arrangement, whereby the 'motor driven vehicle may run on it while suspended from its axis, in a vertical plane, or in a horizontal plane, or whether standing or lying on a flat horizontal surface such as a table, desk, sidewalk or the like. Another object is to provide an endless track structure, formed of two similar or complemental track members, each of which by itself, may act as an endless track for the vehicle, to travel on, and when bolted or otherwise secured together may support the vehicle in the various ways above set forth. Another object is to provide a track structure that may be conveniently formed of sheet metal, or bars, struck up or rolled to give the proper shape of track structure.

Another object is to provide means where by the traction wheels of the vehicle may be employed to rotate thetrack structure while the vehicle is held stationary, or while itis free toyrun on the track. Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and with all of said objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a toy em bodying the preferred form of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showingthe track support and track placed in a horizontal position; Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the track structure disconnected from the support and showing another manner in`which the toy may beV used; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of a fragment rof the device, showing the track structure suspended upon the wheels of the vehicle; Fig. 6 is a detail, front elevation of a fragment of the track structure; Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail cross section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a detail cross section taken on line 99 of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a detail cross section of a modified form of track structure;

141g. 11 is a detail cross section of a second modification; Fig. .12 is a detail cross section of a third modification; Fig.-13 is a detail cross section of-a fourth modification and Fig. 14 is a detail cross section of the track structure illustrating a third rail member.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reference character A, designates a stand or supporting member, B a wheel containing the endless track structure, and capable of being rotatively mounted on said support, and also capable of rolling along a horizontal surface, and C designates a motor driven vehicle such as a toy locomotive, automobile or the like, which is arranged to travel on the rails of said track structure.

The supporting member A, comprises, in its simplest form, a base a, and a post or standard a? secured thereto approximately midway between its ends and near one edge. Projecting from said standard 0,1 is a spindle a2 upon which the wheel B may be rotatively mounted. The supporting member A may stand on its base a, (see Figs. 1 and 2) and it maybe laid down upon a table, desk or the like (see Fig. 3). In either position its spindle a2 is capable of rotatively supporting the wheel B.

In its preferred form the track structure comprises two similar, companion track members 15, 15, which are annular in form, and under certain circumstances are bolted or otherwise secured together. Each track member is struck up from sheet metal to provide a channel like ring having a flat web portion 16 and two annular concentric fianges 17, 171, the one flange 17l being' within the confines of the flange 17. The flanges 17, 171 of one track member form a pair of rails for receiving the traction wheels c of the vehicle C when the track member is laid on its side.

The web portion 16 of each track member is struck up to form laterally distended spacers or struts 1S which are spaced equidistant about the track member, Said spacers or struts project from the side of the web 1G opposite the one from which the flanges 17, 171 project. In assembling the track structure the track members are placed back to back with the spacers in contact and then locked or otherwise secured together, bolts and nuts 19 being here shown for that purpose. The bolts pass through bolt holes in the spacers, and the nuts are turned up tight on the bolts to fasten the two track members together. Vhen the track members are secured together, the two opposite flanges 17, 17, form a pair of rails for supporting the vehicle on the outer side of the wheel, (see Fig. 1) and the two opposite flanges 171, 171, form another pair of rails for supporting the vehicle on theinner side of the vehicle (see Fig. 11). It will be observed that the arrangement of the flanges 17, 171 is such that they will receive the wheels of the vehicle, whether the latter is placed on either side of the wheel, on its outer annular face or on its inner annular face. This arrangement permits the wheel to be used in the following several ways.

Each separate track member 15 may be laid on a table or the like with its fianges projecting upward, and the vehicle may be placed on its flanges 17, 171. The two track members may be fastened together and set on edge (see Fig. L1) and the vehicle may be set on the inner flanges 171, 171. The vehicle C contains a spring motor c1, which is wound up with a key as is well understood, and when the spring is wound, the vehicle may be placed on the inner track (formed by the flanges 171, 171) and when released the tractive effect of the wheels of the vehicle is to propel the wheel B" along the surface upon which it rests.

rIhe vehicle C may, however, be secured to the standard n.1 in an inverted position (see Fig. 5) and the wheel B placed on the traction wheels of the vehicle. In this position the traction wheels rotate the wheel B. The means for supporting the vehicle in inverted position on the standard may comprise a U shaped pin 20, which is secured on the standard a1 by pins 21 that may be inserted transversely through holes in the standard, one above and one below the U pin 20. The l.) pin is inserted through holes c2 formed in the vehicle and supports it in inverted position. The means just described for supporting the vehicle in inverted position may, of course, be varied considerably but serves merely for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

For rotatively mounting the wheel upon the standard, spokes 22 are provided on the wheel, and a hub 23 is provided at the inner ends of the spokes. The spokes have laterally bent end portions 221 (see Fig. 9) which extend through the webs of the two track members, and are secured thereon by nuts 221. Their other ends are secured in the hub 23. Said hub is preferably provided with ball bearings 21 to reduce friction to a minimum, and the inner ball bearing member is formed with a central hole that lits the spindle a2.' A Cotter' pin secured in the spindle secures the hub thereon.

Then the wheel B is mounted on the spindle a2, the vehicle C may be placed on the inner track, formed by the flanges 171, 171, and when its traction wheels rotate, they rotate the wheel upon the spindle. The vehicle may, however, be placed on top of the wheel (see Figs. 1 and 2) and secured to the standard a1 by a pin 25, which is thrust through a hole in the vehicle and a hole in the standard. In this position the vehicle is held stationary on top of the wheel and its traction wheels rotate the wheel B upon the spindle.

The supporting member A, may, however, be laid Vdown and the vehicle placed on the track formed by the Hanges 17, 171 of the upper track member. In this position the vehicle runs forward and rotates the wheel in the reverse direction. By inserting the pin 25 through the base rt, and locking the vehicle to the base, the bodily movement of the vehicle is arrested and the traction wheels thereupon rotate the wheel upon the spindle. By removing the pin 25 and inserting it in the base in position to engage the struts of the wheel, (see dotted lines Fig. 3) or by inserting it in the standard, in position to engage any of the spokes of the wheel, movement of the wheel is arrested, and the vehicle travels around on the upper track thereof.

The track structure may be formed in many ways, other than that illustrated in connection with the preferred form of the invention. The following are illustrations of such modifications. i

In Fig. 10, in place of shearing the metal. to form the spacers or struts, the metal of the web is depressed by a suitable die to form the spacer 181. If desired washers or other spacing means may be placed between the depressed parts to adjust the width of the track if desired.

In Fig. 11, outer and inner annular track members 15b, 15c are shown. Said track members may be rolled out of strips of metal to the cross section shown and secured together one. within the other.

In Fig. 12, additional adjustability is provided for. The wheel or t 'ack structure is formed of four track members 1511, each having an annular rib or flange 150. The ribs 15e overlap each other as shown and are bolted or otherwise secured together. The ribs may have elongated slots formed thereon for the bolts whereby the track Cri members of each side may be adjusted toward or away from the members of the other side. I-Iere also washers or othe'I spacers may be placed between the ribs.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 13 a slightly dill'erent cross section of track member lf, is shown. rlhis form may also be made from strips of metal rolled out and the ends secured together.

In Fig. 14, I have illustra-ted a circular metal ring 32 insulated from the trackmembers 15g, which ring 32 may act as a third rail, in case it is desired to employ an electrically driven motor vehicle in place of a spring motor driven one.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let/ters Patent:

Il. In an endless track toy, a track structure comprising two annular track members, each formed with marginal annular flanges that serve as rails for a motor driven vehicle, said track members being spaced apart and set back to back and secured together, whereby the opposite flanges of the two track members form internal and external annular tracks, upon which said vehicle may travel.

2. In an endless track toy, a track structure comprising annular companion track members, formed with marginal annular flanges that serve as rails for a motor driven vehicle, and also formed with offset por tions that serve to space one rail of a pair from the other one of the pair.

El. In an endless track toy, a track structure comprising two annular companion track members, each formed with annular marginal flanges that serve as rails for a motor driven vehicle, and also formed with offset portions that serve ito space the rails of one pair from those ofl the other pair.

4. In an endless track toy, a track structure comprising two similar, annular companion track members, set back to back, each formed with two annular marginal flanges that serve as rails for a motor driven vehicle, and also formed with struck up spacers that are secured together.

5. In an endless track toy, a track member comprising an annular web portion formed with inner and outer marginal flanges on one side, and formed with odset spacing struts on the side opposite the one from which the flanges project.

6. In an endless track toy, a supporting member having a spindle secured therein, an endless track wheel structure journaled on said spindlel and having two track .inembers formed with four annular flanges that serve as internal and external rails, and as rails on the sides of the wheel structure, whereby a wheeled toy vehicle may travel on any of .said four sets of tracks.

7. In an endless track toy, a supporting1 member having a spindle secured therein,` an endless track wheel structure journaledV on said spindle and having two track members formed with four annular flanges that serve as internal and external rails, and as rails on the sides of the wheel structure,I whereby a wheeled toy vehicle may travel on any of saidfour sets of tracks, and a stop p in arranged to be inserted in said supporting member, in position to hold the vehicle stationary on top of the wheeled structure. Y

8. In an endless track toy, a supporting member having a spindle secured therein, and capable of standing upright or lying down, an endless track wheel structure journaled on said. spindle and having `two track members formed with four annular flanges that serve as internal and external rails, and as rails on the sides of the wheel structure, whereby a wheeled toy vehicle may travel on any of said four sets of tracks, and a stop pin arranged to be inserted in said supporting member in position to hold the vehicle stationary on the wheel structure, or to hold the wheel structure stationary.

9. In an endless track toy, a supporting member having a spindle secured therein, an endless track wheel structure journaled on said spindle and having two track members formed with four annular flanges that serve as internal and external rails, and as rails on the sides of the wheel structure, whereby a wheeled toy vehicle may travel on any of said four sets of tracks, and a vehicle support, cooperating with the supporting member to hold the vehicle inverted with its wheels in contact with the internal track.

10. In an endless track toy, a wheel structure formed of two similar, annular track members each struck up with inner and outer marginal flanges, and with spacing' struts, each capable of serving as an endless track for a wheeled toy, and both, when set back to back and secured together, serving as four endless tracks for a wheeled toy.

GUY F. JONTZ. 

